colts over s+W?

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bcuzimisu

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looking at buying a used revolver soon. Had been looking at either a used model 19 or maybe a new gp100 for blasting out .357 mostly at the range, but also for sd. came across a near new colt trooper .357 4" for $400 at a local shop. I've always heard colts the best but never fired one myself. any suggestions? I have also been looking at the 686 but its online and i'm leary about not seeing the gun first.
 
Newer Trooper is a great weapon, action is a little different in feeling then a Ruger or Smith, but at $400,, it would be a decent buy in my area

Only thing I would do is change out the grips for a set of houges
 
As a general rule, Colts have excellent SA triggers. DA trigger pull is another story. Colts tend to "stack", getting heavier the farther you pull the trigger. It's hard to get as good of a DA trigger as you can with an S&W.

S&Ws almost always either have better DA triggers, or are easier to get a good DA trigger pull on.

That being said, Colts are at least the esthetic equals of the Smiths. If I bought a Colt DA revolver, it would be for the looks as much as anything else.

I wish I still had the Colt Official Police I had when I was in the Army...
 
near new colt trooper .357 4" for $400 at a local shop
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Do you remember if it was an old style Trooper, Trooper Mk III or V?
Lots of internal differences between the old troopers and the newer ones.
 
A lot of this depends on WHICH Trooper you're looking at.

The original Colt Trooper as made from 1953 to 1969 is basically the same gun as the Colt Python.
The only real difference is, the Python is essentially a Trooper with a heavy lugged barrel, a much finer blue job, and a more refined and tuned action.
For this reason, the Trooper is often called a "poor man's Python".

The other Trooper is actually the Trooper Mark III and Mark V.
Many people neglect to add the "Mark III or V" identification to the Trooper name, and this leads to confusion.
These models were made from 1969 into the mid-1980's and were later used as the basis of the King Cobra.

These are totally different guns, and have nothing in common with the original Trooper or the Python.
These are extremely strong, tough guns, and are amazingly high quality compared to todays revolvers.

In either case, these Colt's are very high quality revolvers.
 
S&Ws almost always either have better DA triggers, or are easier to get a good DA trigger pull on.
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That is really a personal opinion. Both action styles (Colt and S&W) are excellent, but just different. Some shooters prefer the Colt action over the S&W action. I shoot much better with a Colt than a S&W.
 
I would wait on a Smith. I have owned both, and much prefer the S&W.
 
I own both Smiths and Colts. I shoot better with a Smith. This is because I use a smooth rearward pull to fire it DA. The smith lends itself to this DA technique. I do not try to "stage" my DA shots. Other folks shoot better with a Colt.
 
Colts as noted have a marked increase in pull weight the closer you get to the break. If you shoot a revolver DA by stacking, Colt's work great. S&W's have steadier increase across the trigger pull, great if you shoot DA with a straight pull through.

Either way both companies make great wheel guns.

-Jenrick
 
thanks guys. sounds like a little of both opinions. ill have to check into the make, sounds like i would want the mark III or V right? Moneys money and this is the first colt ive seen around locally so i might get this for now cause every shop in town has a smith. probably get one of those right off anyway.
 
The Old model trooper is a more desireable pistol and will be worth more in the long run. The Trooper MKIII's where made with coil springs and transfer bar type safety. The MKIII's and the MKV's are generally less expensive than a Old model trooper. In the picture below you can see my 2 old model Troopers in 4" and 6" on top with one 6" MKIII. Colts fit and finish was always better than S&W's. I own both Colts and S&W's and if I had to make the choice I'd get rid of the Smith's first except it would be a hard choice between my S&W 27 and the Colt MKIII.
trooperfamily
 
I'd buy that Trooper right away. The Trooper MK III I had was a class act and I really miss it. The trigger is different than a Smith and most seem to use the Smith as a yardstick in wheelguns, but I think that's a matter of taste. If you're going to shoot the hell out of it, though, you're probably better off with the 686 or 19. Repairs, gunsmithing, etc. on that Trooper can only be done by someone skilled with Colts and there aren't many around these days.
 
Nobody seems to remember that Colt has been out of the DA revolver business for a while. I'd be concerned about getting one fixed if it broke. I think that the choice should be between Smith and Ruger and I'm partial to Smith.
 
Seldom do you hear of a Trooper or the MkIII breaking. They are fairly robust guns. Though if it breaks parts are plentiful and if it's a MkIII then the action is not the same as the old action that needed hand tuning. It's more of a parts swapping gun like the Smiths. The MkIII will potentially break the firing pin if dry fired. That repair does require a trip back to the repair center.
 
I'm not knocking Colts. They are without a doubt fine revolvers. My opinion is to go with the S&W. I own 4 and I love all of them. I've had only one problem with the 686PP since I bought it and no problems at all with the other 3. The problem with the 686 didn't stop it from firing either.
 
The first two revolvers I purchased were a Colt Diamondback and a Colt Trooper MkIII. I hated the Diamondback's trigger action due to the stacking. The Trooper's was not as smooth or easy but did not stack. When the opportunity came to trade for a S&W Model 15 I jumped at the chance and swapped the Trooper even up. I was happy with the trade then and would do it again today.

I had a nickle Trooper in 4" as a small town policeman. It was offered at a good price and I bit. While qualifying with it a few months later the trigger broke. Literally snapped inside the frame. The gun was now useless. I purchased and replaced the trigger and traded that sucker off immediatly. I plan to never own another.

As for the older style lockwork...I still prefer the S&W but appreciate the smoothness and quality of the classic Colts. I have owned and carried several different Agents, Cobras and Detective Specials and would be happy to have a Diamondback,Police Positive, Official Police, Original Trooper or Python for fun. Saying that I still think the lockwork is overly complicated and subject to timing issues when used often. Given a choice for duty or personal defense I would carry the S&W every time. :)
 
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